This Time, One Really Did Show Up

The item was an old wristband.

It wasn't nearly as glittering with gold as Xu Sheng had imagined; its surface was even somewhat worn. The deacon in charge of delivering it placed it on the table, first showing Xu Sheng the scratches already on it, then explaining how to use it.

Its internal space was small, about one cubic meter, and it could hold inanimate objects.

It belonged to Red Pine Courtyard for use on assignments. Xu Sheng would keep it and was responsible for tracking whatever went in and out.

Xu Sheng nodded repeatedly as he listened, but his eyes remained fixed on the wristband.

Once it was in his hands, he put away the coil of rope he had brought, then an empty waterskin, and reached out to feel around.

They really were gone.

With a thought, the coil of rope reappeared in his hand.

Xu Sheng put it away again.

The deacon beside him laughed as he watched.

"Do you have to take everything back out as soon as you put it in?"

"It's my first time receiving a Storage Soul Tool from the continent. It's a novelty."

Xu Sheng answered candidly, without the slightest pretense of being accustomed to fine things.

Xu Sheng had long since grown familiar with his own private storage slots. But he could hand this wristband to Ji Juechen or Xu Lizhi, so when the team split up to handle tasks, they wouldn't have to wait for him every time they needed to store or retrieve something.

The rope, the medicine kit, the cloth strips-whoever was responsible for a given part of the support could take them along with the wristband.

Even if it was a little small, it was still one tangible addition to Red Pine Courtyard's belongings.

This was a convenience that could save lives.

He was tucking the wristband into his sleeve when someone came in and said Elder Yue Guan wanted to see him.

Xu Sheng promptly put the coil of rope away and followed the messenger out.

Yue Guan didn't have him demonstrate his Soul Skill again.

A field assignment report lay at the edge of the table, with several cultivation documents Xu Lizhi needed beside it. When Xu Sheng entered, Yue Guan was turning to the page about the rescue at Bluestone Gorge.

"Did you collect it?"

"I did. Thank you, Elder."

Xu Sheng raised his wrist to show him.

Yue Guan glanced at it, then returned his gaze to the report.

"You sent the rope down first and saw to the injured before anything else. Well done. The people who came afterward also found the Man Faced Demon Spider's corpse and its venomous web, so no more passersby were hurt."

When Xu Sheng heard that last sentence, he truly breathed a sigh of relief.

With everything cleaned up, the trip had left no loose ends.

Yue Guan closed the report and asked about Meng Xingzhou.

"He's not from your courtyard?"

"No, we teamed up this time. If suitable assignments come along, we plan to work together again."

"Are they willing?"

"They are. They even spent last night at my place."

Yue Guan looked at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

Xu Sheng was a little puzzled, but he laughed along.

He hadn't said anything wrong, anyway.

"Take these back."

Yue Guan pushed the food-type documents over to him.

Xu Sheng hurriedly took them. When he flipped through them, he found that the parts worth examining had been marked in each document, and a catalog of materials available for further borrowing was attached at the back.

"For Lizhi?"

"For him. Each set of excerpts focuses on something different. Let him choose what he wants to read. If there's anything he doesn't understand, have him write it down and send someone to ask."

Xu Sheng immediately agreed. He carefully wrapped up the documents before putting them into the wristband.

His movements were as practiced as if he had been using it for years.

Yue Guan watched him, another hint of amusement in his eyes.

"You do learn quickly."

"With this, who wouldn't?"

Only after saying it did Xu Sheng realize how readily the reply had slipped out. He hurriedly lowered his sleeve.

Yue Guan didn't mind, though. He only asked a little more about the cultivation of the others in the courtyard and how they arranged their rest after assignments.

Xu Sheng answered each question without announcing any earthshaking plans.

What he wanted to do at the moment was quite practical.

He wanted Cen Zhao to get as close to level twenty as possible, and his one-ring companions to grow more adept at using the Soul Skills they already had. They could read up on whatever Soul Beast information was available and ask around about whatever places they could, so that when their Soul Power reached the right level, they wouldn't have to go begging for help everywhere as Jiang Shi once had.

After hearing him out, Yue Guan didn't lay out the whole path for him. He only extended the time limit on the borrowing pass a little.

Xu Sheng saw it and smiled even more happily than before.

The elder really did give them things.

His steps were noticeably quicker as he left.

As soon as the wristband was brought back to Red Pine Courtyard, a circle of heads gathered around it.

Xu Sheng stood beside the table, put a cup inside, then took it out again. After watching, Cen Zhao handed him a piece of clean cloth, insisting that he try it once more.

Xu Sheng was very generous.

He hadn't played with it enough himself, anyway.

Lu Song watched for quite a while, then turned and ran to the kitchen. Before long, he returned, holding the pot he had always wanted to bring on their trips.

Xu Sheng's smile froze on his face.

"You really haven't forgotten."

"It'll fit now, won't it?"

Lu Song set the pot on the ground, complete with its lid.

Qiao Fu came chasing after him and reached out to carry the pot back.

"We need this to cook dinner!"

The courtyard immediately rang with laughter.

Once Xu Sheng had finished laughing, he still agreed to find them a smaller pot before their next trip. After spending days eating in the wind and sleeping in the open, he didn't want to gnaw on cold flatbread for every meal either.

Xu Lizhi, however, didn't spend long crowding around the wristband.

Once Xu Sheng brought out the bundle of documents, the little fatty's attention was completely captured. He took it in both hands and turned the pages with great care.

Some parts he already knew, while others presented things in a different way. As he read, he sat down beneath the veranda and took out paper and a brush.

Xu Sheng didn't disturb him. He went inside and wrote a letter.

It was addressed to Du Wenhe.

He wrote that he had established a firm footing here, that Wen Zhao had stayed, that the courtyard had gained another food-type companion, and that they had recently made connections with another team.

When he got to the Man Faced Demon Spider, he had originally intended to give a good account of that final sword strike. After writing half a line, he added the others' names.

If he left them out, Big Brother Du might think he could already take on one of those things alone and send another letter telling him to find a thousand-year-old one. That would be trouble.

The thought made Xu Sheng laugh.

When he finished the letter, he added a few greetings for Uncle Liang and asked Du Wenhe to pass them along. He had promised to go back for a visit when he left, and now that he was settled, it really was time to find an opportunity to return.

Over the next half month, Red Pine Courtyard grew livelier.

They went out when it was their turn on duty, then each practiced on their own after returning. Meng Xingzhou and his companions came by every few days. At first, Ji Juechen crossed swords with him; later, Ye Wanqing also began bringing old arrows to see Jiang Shi, while Pei Chuan and Lu Song competed every few days to see who could take more punishment.

Xu Sheng didn't need to call everyone together for a lecture every day.

With people in the courtyard, many things began moving on their own.

One morning, he finished meditating and checked his Soul Power as usual. Suddenly, his gaze stopped.

Level twenty-three.

Xu Sheng checked again, and a smile immediately spread across his face.

His recent practice hadn't been in vain. He had finally taken another step forward.

He rose and pushed open the door. His White Wings spread in the morning light as he casually flicked a wooden post standing in the courtyard into an open space, then drew his sword and tried a couple of moves.

His Soul Power flowed more smoothly than before, and after exerting himself several times in succession, his arm didn't grow heavy as quickly.

Xu Sheng was absorbed in testing it when Ji Juechen emerged from the side. After watching for a moment, he drew his sword.

"A match?"

Xu Sheng looked at him, then at the sword in his own hand.

"Sure! But let's agree on this first: you're bringing the food over later."

Ji Juechen nodded.

The two swords met, and the courtyard was soon filled with the crisp sound of their clashes.

Just then, a messenger arrived outside.

Du Wenhe's reply had come.

Hearing his name, Xu Sheng hurriedly broke away and sheathed his sword. As he took the letter, he assumed that, upon learning they had a courtyard, Du Wenhe would first ask whether it was large and whether they were cramped.

The beginning did indeed mention those things, and also said that Shen Zhaolin had read the letter and laughed for quite a while.

But as Xu Sheng read further, his gaze gradually froze.

An otherworlder had come to Soto.

He hadn't come looking for someone to help him hunt for a ring, nor had he come to apply to Shrek Academy. He had first asked about the Blood Angels, then found Spirit Hall and said he wanted to see Xu Sheng.

Du Wenhe asked him about his Martial Soul.

The man hadn't hidden it and had summoned it directly.

The Clear Sky Hammer.

Xu Sheng brought the letter closer, and only after making sure he hadn't misread it did he continue.

At the end, Du Wenhe wrote that what the man most wanted to ask wasn't whether the two teams could work together.

He wanted to join Spirit Hall.

Xu Sheng stared at those lines, the corners of his mouth slowly rising.

A Clear Sky Hammer had come looking for him to ask how to join Spirit Hall.

This time, someone interesting really had shown up!